Advice Needed For Interval International Trading

[DarleneAnne]

Hi,
My family wanted to go to Spain this June with a trade using our DVC points. We started last spring with no luck getting a match. I finally gave up in January and decided to book our trip to BW and VB which we just returned from yesterday. Has anyone got advice on how to be successful in II trading? We want to try again for Europe and also the Caribbean.
Thanks, Darlene

Poly 96' & 04', AK 06', SSR 07', BW & VB 08'
Disney Cruise 09'

 

[Dean]

Hi,
My family wanted to go to Spain this June with a trade using our DVC points. We started last spring with no luck getting a match. I finally gave up in January and decided to book our trip to BW and VB which we just returned from yesterday. Has anyone got advice on how to be successful in II trading? We want to try again for Europe and also the Caribbean.
Thanks, Darlene

Poly 96' & 04', AK 06', SSR 07', BW & VB 08'
Disney Cruise 09'

Start at least a year out (which you did), be realistic and investigate the area and resorts ahead. Be as flexibile as possible then hope for the best. For places with few resorts don't hold your breath, have a back up plan. Don't insist on a 2 BR unless you must have that size, esp for Europe, HI and the Caribbean.

 

[bonnielynn]

doesn't sound promising on getting what you want.

 

[DarleneAnne]

Start at least a year out (which you did), be realistic and investigate the area and resorts ahead. Be as flexibile as possible then hope for the best. For places with few resorts don't hold your breath, have a back up plan. Don't insist on a 2 BR unless you must have that size, esp for Europe, HI and the Caribbean.

Thank you, I will definitely take your advice and investigate the areas more. We really prefer the 2 BDR, but we can be more flexible with the resorts. We are going to try and book out 2 years in advance this time. Wish me luck!!

 

[DarleneAnne]

doesn't sound promising on getting what you want.

It was disappointing. I hope it's easier this time.

 

[bonnielynn]

I bought into dvc for the possibility of going elsewhere... I am wondering if it is going to be worth it.

 

[DarleneAnne]

I bought into dvc for the possibility of going elsewhere... I am wondering if it is going to be worth it.

We originally purchased Marriott in Horizons in Orlando but I really wanted DVC since our family intended to visit Disney a lot. We also decided that Disney weeded out a lot of not so nice resorts and chose better for their collection. You could choose from what I think are thousands through II by purchasing Marriott, not all worthwhile. So we cancelled our contract with Marriott in time and purchased SSR. We did think we would have a good chance of trading with II because Disney is desirable. Like I said I have only tried that one area in Spain so maybe I will have better luck starting 2 years out. We are deciding now what to do for 2010. I have heard that most people buy Disney because they want to use the Disney resorts, it's more expensive than some other timeshares. Many don't trade out or don't plan to for many years. I have some friends who also have DVC and they really only intend to use it for Disney for a long time. We may add Mariott on in the future for better trading availabilty, we'll see how this all works.

 

[Starr W.]

I bought into dvc for the possibility of going elsewhere... I am wondering if it is going to be worth it.

I own another timeshare and it's kind of nerve racking. With starting a search 1+yr out, life sometimes gets in the way. We ended up cancelling the search and moved to plan B. Just got back from plan B, which was Park City UT and had a blast. Stayed at the Marriott Summit Watch right on Main St.

I think you need to be fairly flexible and realistic. I've been seeing a lot more HI units popping up on II including the brand name resorts. It's even noticable to long time owners who have spent years trading. Don't know if airfare is scaring people.

 

[Starr W.]

We originally purchased Marriott in Horizons in Orlando but I really wanted DVC since our family intended to visit Disney a lot. We also decided that Disney weeded out a lot of not so nice resorts and chose better for their collection. You could choose from what I think are thousands through II by purchasing Marriott, not all worthwhile. So we cancelled our contract with Marriott in time and purchased SSR. We did think we would have a good chance of trading with II because Disney is desirable. Like I said I have only tried that one area in Spain so maybe I will have better luck starting 2 years out. We are deciding now what to do for 2010. I have heard that most people buy Disney because they want to use the Disney resorts, it's more expensive than some other timeshares. Many don't trade out or don't plan to for many years. I have some friends who also have DVC and they really only intend to use it for Disney for a long time. We may add Mariott on in the future for better trading availabilty, we'll see how this all works.

Marriott has resorts in Spain, which I bet those were the ones you were trying to get?

I don't plan on trading my DVC points on II, I don't like that I can't see myself what else is out there for my time period.

 

[Dean]

I bought into dvc for the possibility of going elsewhere... I am wondering if it is going to be worth it.

Likely not to use for non DVC stays.

We originally purchased Marriott in Horizons in Orlando but I really wanted DVC since our family intended to visit Disney a lot. We also decided that Disney weeded out a lot of not so nice resorts and chose better for their collection. You could choose from what I think are thousands through II by purchasing Marriott, not all worthwhile. So we cancelled our contract with Marriott in time and purchased SSR. We did think we would have a good chance of trading with II because Disney is desirable. Like I said I have only tried that one area in Spain so maybe I will have better luck starting 2 years out. We are deciding now what to do for 2010. I have heard that most people buy Disney because they want to use the Disney resorts, it's more expensive than some other timeshares. Many don't trade out or don't plan to for many years. I have some friends who also have DVC and they really only intend to use it for Disney for a long time. We may add Mariott on in the future for better trading availabilty, we'll see how this all works.

The Marriott would have traded better given the internal trading preference. You can select the resorts yourself and do better than DVC has done so there's no real benefit or protection to the DVC member.

 

[DarleneAnne]

Marriott has resorts in Spain, which I bet those were the ones you were trying to get?

I don't plan on trading my DVC points on II, I don't like that I can't see myself what else is out there for my time period.

Yes, we liked Marbella. I visited the resort websites to see what the rooms were like, very nice.

 

[DarleneAnne]

Likely not to use for non DVC stays.

The Marriott would have traded better given the internal trading preference. You can select the resorts yourself and do better than DVC has done so there's no real benefit or protection to the DVC member.

That's what we were concerned about. Well I guess we just have to try anyway, but early. Worse case is we wind up at Disney and that's not a bad thing.

 

[kimberh]

I have another timeshare, to get a two bedroom at Grand Cayman with RCI, I have to call 2 years to the week that I want to travel. The resort that we stay at, has a once every 4 year block, I have had very good luck getting it every 4 years using the method that I just told you. If, I waited until the next few weeks, all the two bedrooms will be gone. I missed it once, went on a carribean search, for the whole carribean, this went on for months and months, nothing ever came up. I ended canceling the week and just using that week in the mountains. I asked the rep, how do I book the Carribean, he told me to do just what I just told you. If II works different, well let me know. I wanted a specific resort, this year we have 3 rooms for next month. I have had these rooms for almost 2 years now. My parents booked one of them when I called her and told her how, they are traveling with us. My parents own at the same resort in TN that we do.

 

[beachblanket]

I've been seeing a lot more HI units popping up on II including the brand name resorts. It's even noticable to long time owners who have spent years trading. Don't know if airfare is scaring people.

Trust me, it is. Europe and Las Vegas are already getting hammered by the emerging air-related travel downturn. Hawaii is next.

 

[Starr W.]

Trust me, it is. Europe and Las Vegas are already getting hammered by the emerging air-related travel downturn. Hawaii is next.

I know Vegas is hurting, I watch CNBC and have seen some of the warnings and quarterly reports by the majors out there. Listened to the CEO's from Marriott and Starwood a few weeks ago, they didn't deny bookings are down here in the US.

My 09 requests for next summer are all drive to locations.

 

[bonnielynn]

So let me get this one straight.. if you are trading your points out to stay someplace other than disney.. you have to start 1 yr out... ?

And basically you are better off staying with Disney?

 

[NejTheLion]

Not necessarily. I wouldn't recommend buying DVC primarily to trade out, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. It depends on where you want to go, when you want to go, what size room you need, and how far in advance you put in your request. Hawaii is hard, but there are plenty of nices place that aren't as difficult to get.

 

[Kathi OD]

So let me get this one straight.. if you are trading your points out to stay someplace other than disney.. you have to start 1 yr out... ?

And basically you are better off staying with Disney?

It depends on where you want to go, when you want to go, and what kind of room you want. We've done 2 II trades, both to places in the US (one in AZ and one in TN) and did both inside 6 or 7 months. We also tried to do a last minute trade into Key West, in March, that we were unable to get (but I wasn't counting on it at all).

Using DVC points to trade out of DVC is not really a financially-good use of points. Doesn't mean we won't continue to do it in the future...no one said we always make the right moves financially.

 

[bonnielynn]

It depends on where you want to go, when you want to go, and what kind of room you want. We've done 2 II trades, both to places in the US (one in AZ and one in TN) and did both inside 6 or 7 months. We also tried to do a last minute trade into Key West, in March, that we were unable to get (but I wasn't counting on it at all).

Using DVC points to trade out of DVC is not really a financially-good use of points. Doesn't mean we won't continue to do it in the future...no one said we always make the right moves financially.

why is it not financially a good use of points.. if you paid off.?

 

[Dean]

why is it not financially a good use of points.. if you paid off.?

What you do with your points is certainly up to you. However, points are a somewhat liquid item that you can convert to dollars if you see fit. There is a tangeable value to each and every point. Generally when we have this discussion it's in relationship to someone looking to purchase. There are FAR better options to buy to trade and cash is essentially always a better option for the Disney Collection and Concierge Collection and similar.